March 19, 2012: Gloops, a Japanese social application provider that develops and operates social applications for mobile phones, has been named the title sponsor for Japan Opening Series 2012 and Boeing will be a "major sponsor" during the two games scheduled for March 28-29.

Financial terms of the deals were not disclosed.

Other companies on the roster for the series between the Seattle Mariners and Oakland A's include Bank of America, Lawson Ticket, Sankyo and Sato Pharmaceutical. In addition, Ito Ham will sponsor the Fighting Spirit Award.

Organizers of Gloops Japan Opening Series 2012 include MLB, MLB Players Assn., Nippon Professional Baseball and the Yomiuri Giants.

MLB will open its season in Tokyo for the fourth time but the first time since the Boston Red Sox and Athletics played at the Tokyo Dome in 2008. The 2012 games are also scheduled for the Tokyo Dome. Several exhibition games are also being planned leading up to the March 28-29 opener.

“We are very excited to have Gloops as a title sponsor for Japan Opening Series 2012," Paul Archey, svp-International Business Operations for Major League Baseball, said in a statement. “Gloops is a popular Japanese company that develops Major League Baseball-themed gaming applications. We look forward to working with Gloops on the highly anticipated opening of the 2012 MLB season in Japan.”

As part of their title sponsorship deal, the Gloops event logo will appear on both team’s batting helmets. Gloops will also be the sponsors of the Oakland As jersey patch.

As part of its deal, Boeing will sponsor the jersey patch for the Seattle Mariners. In addition, Boeing will oversee a clinic for young ballplayers in Ishinomaki, Japan. A group of kids from the clinic will participate in a special pre-game ceremony prior to the first game of the series.

"The opportunity to spotlight our relationship with the Seattle Mariners in Japan, a place where Boeing has had a strong presence for more than five decades, gives us a great deal of pride," Mary Foerster, vp-communications and marketing for Boeing Commercial Airplanes, said in a statement. "The Mariners have been valued community partners since the club was founded, and the Japan series expands our shared tradition of investing to make our communities stronger and more vibrant."

According to Bob Aylward, Mariners evp-business operations, "Boeing is one of the great companies of the Northwest and they are one of the best supporters the Mariners have ever had. This is a first for us to wear a sponsor logo on our uniforms and there is no one we would rather have on our jerseys than Boeing."